Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of cardiovascular disease in animals less than one year of age. Common defects include patent ducts arteriosus (PDA), subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS), pulmonic stenosis (PS), mitral and tricuspid dysplasia (causing insufficiency or stenosis of the valve), atrial and ventricular septal defects (ASD, VSD) and the tetralogy of Fallot. Congenital peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia is a common defect of the diaphragm and pericardium Signalment, physical examination, thoracic radiography and electrocardiography often provide an accurate diagnosis. Definitive diagnosis of the type and severity of CHD requires more sophisticated tests including echocardiography and selective angiocardiography.
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